Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Appalachia
Federal Agencies' Investment in Rural Cancer Control Fosters Partnerships between Researchers and Rural Communities
Highlights how researchers and rural communities are working together to address rural cancer prevention and control, with support from federal funding. Discusses projects that address health behaviors, cancer screening, vaccination, and rural participation in clinical trials.
Author(s): Mary Charlton, Whitney Zahnd, Jennifer Patterson, Kimberly Merchant
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights how researchers and rural communities are working together to address rural cancer prevention and control, with support from federal funding. Discusses projects that address health behaviors, cancer screening, vaccination, and rural participation in clinical trials.
Author(s): Mary Charlton, Whitney Zahnd, Jennifer Patterson, Kimberly Merchant
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Flood Risk is Higher in Rural and Disadvantaged Communities
Examines how flood risk varies based on rural or urban location and socioeconomic or demographic composition, using data from the 48 lower U.S. states. Features statistics on average percentage of properties at risk of flooding, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated areas. Offers recommendations for preparing evacuation and resource distribution materials and creating partnerships with local service agencies, especially in areas with large populations of older adults.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Penn State Population Research Institute
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Examines how flood risk varies based on rural or urban location and socioeconomic or demographic composition, using data from the 48 lower U.S. states. Features statistics on average percentage of properties at risk of flooding, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated areas. Offers recommendations for preparing evacuation and resource distribution materials and creating partnerships with local service agencies, especially in areas with large populations of older adults.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Penn State Population Research Institute
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Assessing the Effectiveness of Cancer Screening Interventions Targeting Appalachian Populations: A Systematic Review
Presents a review of cancer screening interventions aimed at rural Appalachian communities and measures their efficacy. Explores the design and limitations of each study. Breaks down data by cancer type, intervention type, and recorded outcomes, among other factors.
Author(s): Nicole M. Robertson, Lauren Hudson, Suzanna Labib Attia, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 602–623
Date: 06/2021
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Presents a review of cancer screening interventions aimed at rural Appalachian communities and measures their efficacy. Explores the design and limitations of each study. Breaks down data by cancer type, intervention type, and recorded outcomes, among other factors.
Author(s): Nicole M. Robertson, Lauren Hudson, Suzanna Labib Attia, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 602–623
Date: 06/2021
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Community-Based Efforts Aim to Improve the Food Environment within a Highly Obese Rural Appalachian County
Discusses efforts to improve nutrition of rural Appalachian citizens through community-developed marketing strategies. Examines statistical differences in food purchases at 5 Kentucky gas stations before and after healthier options were noted on station shelves via a "Smart Snack" logo.
Author(s): Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Brynnan Dunnaway, Alison Gustafson
Citation: Nutrients, 13(7), 2200
Date: 06/2021
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Discusses efforts to improve nutrition of rural Appalachian citizens through community-developed marketing strategies. Examines statistical differences in food purchases at 5 Kentucky gas stations before and after healthier options were noted on station shelves via a "Smart Snack" logo.
Author(s): Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Brynnan Dunnaway, Alison Gustafson
Citation: Nutrients, 13(7), 2200
Date: 06/2021
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Declines in Infant Mortality in Appalachia and the Delta: 1995-1996 Through 2017-2018
Compares infant mortality nationwide to rates in the Delta and Appalachia, examining maternal demographic changes including age, race, and ethnicity. Draws data from the National Vital Statistics System.
Citation: National Vital Statistics Reports, 70(6), 1-13
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Compares infant mortality nationwide to rates in the Delta and Appalachia, examining maternal demographic changes including age, race, and ethnicity. Draws data from the National Vital Statistics System.
Citation: National Vital Statistics Reports, 70(6), 1-13
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Characterization of Mental Illness Among US Coal Miners
Describe the prevalence of and risk factors for mental illness among 2,808 active and former coal miners from central Appalachia who received clinical care at Stone Mountain Health Services Black Lung Clinic between 2018-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by degree of depression, pulmonary risk factors, and length of time spent working as a miner.
Author(s): Drew Harris, Timothy McMurry, Amanda Caughron, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(5)
Date: 05/2021
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Describe the prevalence of and risk factors for mental illness among 2,808 active and former coal miners from central Appalachia who received clinical care at Stone Mountain Health Services Black Lung Clinic between 2018-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by degree of depression, pulmonary risk factors, and length of time spent working as a miner.
Author(s): Drew Harris, Timothy McMurry, Amanda Caughron, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(5)
Date: 05/2021
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Understanding Declining Rates of Drug Overdose Mortality in Eastern Kentucky
Identifies policies and strategies that might have contributed to the decline in drug overdose mortality in the 5-year periods from 2008-2012 to 2013-2017 in 8 counties in eastern Kentucky. Offers recommendations for approaches that could be implemented in other communities. Includes statistics on overdose mortality in 8 eastern Kentucky counties; a county-level map showing changes in rates of overdose mortality in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio; and a graph showing rates of overdose mortality in the Appalachian counties of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia from 1999-2019.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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Identifies policies and strategies that might have contributed to the decline in drug overdose mortality in the 5-year periods from 2008-2012 to 2013-2017 in 8 counties in eastern Kentucky. Offers recommendations for approaches that could be implemented in other communities. Includes statistics on overdose mortality in 8 eastern Kentucky counties; a county-level map showing changes in rates of overdose mortality in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio; and a graph showing rates of overdose mortality in the Appalachian counties of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia from 1999-2019.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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How Grayson County is Getting Connected
Discusses efforts to build broadband infrastructure in Grayson County, Virginia, in rural Appalachia. Describes the planning process, health implications of broadband access in the county, and advice for communities seeking broadband.
Author(s): AARP Livable Communities
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Discusses efforts to build broadband infrastructure in Grayson County, Virginia, in rural Appalachia. Describes the planning process, health implications of broadband access in the county, and advice for communities seeking broadband.
Author(s): AARP Livable Communities
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Spatial Analysis of Health Care Utilization among Medicare Beneficiaries with Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis and Other Related Pneumoconiosis
Results of a study to determine and map the geographical distribution of healthcare utilization patterns among 8,625 Medicare beneficiaries with black lung disease (CWP) and other related respiratory diseases from 2011-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of coal work-related disease and county-level maps showing healthcare utilization rates for beneficiaries with CWP or other related pneumoconiosis as the diagnosis.
Author(s): Ahmed A. Arif, Claudio Owusu, Rajib Paul, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Results of a study to determine and map the geographical distribution of healthcare utilization patterns among 8,625 Medicare beneficiaries with black lung disease (CWP) and other related respiratory diseases from 2011-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of coal work-related disease and county-level maps showing healthcare utilization rates for beneficiaries with CWP or other related pneumoconiosis as the diagnosis.
Author(s): Ahmed A. Arif, Claudio Owusu, Rajib Paul, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Traffic Safety in Appalachia: Final Report
Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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